144 A HISTORY OF BIRDS 



have been built up by way of interpreting the significance of 

 what has been observed. 



Ignoring, for the moment, these interpretations, let us take 

 a brief survey of the more striking facts which have been 

 recorded on this head. 



In the first place, sexual activity in birds manifests itself in 

 many ways, sometimes indeed in a complex of emotions not 

 easy of analysis. But roughly we may divide the phenomena 

 into (i) periodic outbursts of ecstatic frenzy, during which strange 

 postures are assumed, generally in the presence of the opposite 

 sex; (2) outbursts of jealous rage which vents itself in fighting 

 all possible rivals who may appear upon the scene. Such con- 

 flicts are often severe, one or other of the combatants often 

 being badly mauled, or left dead upon the field ; and (3) in vocal 

 or instrumental music, often of great beauty. 



But the living bird defies systematic definitions; many, for 

 example, contrive to combine all three of these phases. As a 

 rule, in the vast majority of cases indeed, the males alone are 

 the performers, but in a few species the tables are turned, the 

 role of the male being played by the female. 



Considerations of space forbid anything like an exhaustive 

 analysis of this aspect of bird-life ; indeed little more than a very 

 brief survey thereof is possible. And this shall commence with 

 an indication of the nature of displays of the kind indicated in 

 Section I. 



I. Plumage Displays 



Of these no more familiar example could be found than 

 that furnished by the ridiculous antics of the common House- 

 sparrow, which are generally preceded by unseemly brawls, 

 such as are, however, quite in harmony with the life of this street 

 arab among birds. The grotesque manner in which he struts 

 with drooping wings and outspread, upraised tail, around his 

 chosen mate are, however, but feeble performances compared 

 with what many of his betters indulge in ; though these last 

 have contrived to mask the grotesque element by the splendour 

 of their plumage. 



The Turkey and the Peacock may serve us as examples of 

 this. The gorgeous dress of the latter bird is so familiar that any 

 description thereof is unnecessary, but it may be well to remark 



